Take-up threading improvement for automatic strip handling device



United States Patent 72] Inventor John J. Bundschuh Penfield, New York[21] Appl. No. 798,071 [22] Filed Feb. 10, 1969 [45] Patented Dec.1,1970 [73] Assignee Eastman Kodak Company Rochester, New York acorporation of New Jersey [54] TAKE-UP THREADING IMPROVEMENT FORAUTOMATIC STRIP HANDLING DEVICE Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 242/206, 242/74, 242/210 [51] Int. Cl. 11 G03b 1/04, Bh /28[50] Field ofSearch .1 242/195, 210, 206,179, 71.1,74,197,198;352/157,158, 72, 78

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,208,682 9/1965 Pastoreta1. 242/IX 3,282,521 11/1966 Schuller et a1. 242/210 3,414,206 12/1968Ramig,Jr. 242/210x FOREIGN PATENTS 1 1,358,086 2/1964 France 242/210Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Mautz Attorneys-Robert W. Hampton and J.Addison Mathews ABSTRACT: A takeup mechanism for directing stripmaterial onto a rotatable hub member in a device for handling suchmaterial includes a plurality of elongated strip-guiding fingers equallyspaced about the hub member and having adjacent first and second curvedsurfaces on the sides ofthe fingers facing the hub member. The first ofsaid curved surfaces on each finger is configured to direct the stripmaterial toward the hub while the second of said curved surfaces on eachfinger is configured to direct the strip material toward the firstcurved surface of the adjacent finger. Moreover, said first and secondcurved surfaces on each finger define a nub or raised portion betweenthe surfaces configured to be the only portion on the finger whichengages the strip material regardless of the amount of such material onthe hub member.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 3,544,040

FIG. 3

JOHN J. BUNDSCHUH INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS TAKE-UP THREADING IMPROVEMENT FOR AUTOMATIC STRIP HANDLINGDEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention relates totakeup mechanisms for strip-material handling devices, such as motionpicture projectors or the like, and more particularly to improvements insuch mechanisms which direct strip material onto a takeup hub forstoring the strip material.

It is known to provide strip-material handling devices, such as motionpicture cameras and projectors, with takeup systems employing a takeupreel for storing the strip material and means on or adjacent the takeupreel for threading the strip material onto the reel during an automaticthreading cycle of the device. One such known takeup threading means,disclosed in Agfa German published application Ser, No. 1,187,914,published Feb. 25, 1965, comprises three guide fingers mounted on amotion picture camera in equally spaced relationship about the peripheryof a takeup reel. The fingers extend between the reel flangessubstantially tangential to the hub of the reel and the ends of thefingers adjacent the hub are curved around the hub to guide film ontothe hub,

Another known type of takeup threading means, disclosed in Foster et al.US. Pat. No. 2,051,789, issued Apr. 18, 1936, comprises two film guidingmembers which extend from the projector film threading path into andbetween the flanges of a takeup reel and which cooperate to define anentrance channel or extended threading path to the hub of the reel, anda circular chamber completely enclosing the hub ofthe reel. As film isfed from the projector threading path through the entrance channel andinto the chamber, it is guided around the hub and cinched onto the hubby the interior surfaces of the chamber.

Previously known mechanisms for threading film onto a takeup reel sufferfrom numerous disadvantages and have not been entirely satisfactory inrecently developed fully automatic projectors. For example, previoustakeup threading means of the type which employ a plurality of guidefingers equally spaced about the periphery of the takeup reel have asubstantial area on the fingers which continues to contact film on thehub even after several convolutions of film have been threaded onto thehub. This continued and substantial contact results mainly from theshape of the fingers at their ends adjacent the hub where the fingerscurve around the hub at a constant distance from the hub surface.Because of this large contact area, the fingers offer substantialfrictional resistance to rotation of the reel after several convolutionsof film have been threaded onto the reel. Moreover, as film is woundinto a roll on the reel hub, and the diameter of the film rollincreases, the area of contact between the finger and the roll movesfrom adjacent one end of the finger toward the other end of the finger.Since the fingers are pivotally mounted and spring biased against theroll at their ends remote from the roll, this movement of the area ofcontact along the finger changes the effective lever arm through whichthe spring bias on the fingers exerts pressure against the roll.Accordingly, the resistance to rotation of the roll due to its contactwith the fingers varies with the diameter ofthe roll.

Previously known takeup threading means ofthe type which define acircular chamber around the hub suffer from disadvantages similar tothose set forth above. Moreover, threading means of this type oftenrequire additional mechanisms for withdrawing the guide members from thehub after the film is threaded onto the hub, and the guide members oftenmust be constructed from relatively heavy sheet material in order toobtain the necessary rigidity of such guide members. Accordingly, suchthreading means often require complex and heavy mechanisms.

These and other problems associated with previously known takeupthreading means are further compounded when used in recently developedmotion picture projectors which include sophisticated automaticmechanisms for removing film from a supply cartridge and forrewindingthe film back into the car- LII tridge when projection iscompleted. in projectors ofthis type, the takeup reel may be enclosed ina chamber where it is unavailable to correct any malfunctions in thethreading operation. lt is, therefor, mandatory that the guiding fingersor members operate smoothly and without malfunction or interference withmovement of the film or rotation of the takeup reel.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON lt is an object of the present invention toprovide a takeup mechanism for a strip-material handling device, whichwill thread strip material onto a rotatable supporting hub withoutpossibility of malfunction.

1t is a further object of the invention to provide a simple mechanism ofthe above type which will impart a constant as well as relativelyinsubstantial frictional resistance to rotation ofthe hub regardlessofthe amount of strip material supported on the hub.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a motionpicture projector, having means for feeding film toward the hub of atakeup reel rotatably supported on the projector, is provided with threeguide fingers spaced radially from the hub of the reel and spacedcircumferentially about the periphery ofthe reel. The fingers arepivotally mounted on the projector for movement between a first positionadjacent and substantially tangential to the hub and a second positionretracted from the hub. Each of the fingers includes a side closest tothe hub which defines first and second adjacent arcuate surfaces; thefirst arcuate surface of each finger being configured to direct filmtoward the hub and the second arcuate surface of each finger beingconfigured to direct the film toward the first curved surface of anadjacent finger. The first and second curved surfaces define a nub orraised portion therebetween and on oneedge ofthe finger, which raisedportion is configured to be the closest point on the finger to film onthe hub regardless of the amount of film on the hub. Moreover, thefingers exert a constant and insubstantial resistance to rotation of theroll through a substantially single line contact between the fingers andone edge of the film regardless ofthe amount offilm on the reel.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofamotion picture projector having a portion ofthe projector housing cutaway to show a takeup mechanism in accordance with the presentinvention.

E16. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the projectordepicted in FIG. 1 showing guide fingers of the mechanism configured inaccordance with the present invention.

P10. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line 3-3 ofFIG. 1 and showing the manner in which the guide fingers rest upon filmon the hub with substantially single line contact along only one edgeofthe film.

DESCRlPTlON OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, apreferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed on a motion pictureprojector comprising a projector housing 1. a film supply cartridge 3containing a supply reel 5,11 stripping mechanism 7 for removing film Ffrom the cartridge during a threading cycle of the projector and forthreading the film along means defining a film path 9 to a film pulldownclaw ll, and a takeup chamber 13 containing a takeup reel 15. Thevarious features of the projector, other than the takeup mechanism, areeither well known in the art or are clearly illustrated and described inpreviously filed applications such as commonly assigned copending US.Pat. application Ser. No. 643,502 entitled ClNEMATOGRAPl-llC CARTRIDGEPROJECTOR AP- PARATUS filed June 5, 1967 in the name of Bundschuh et a1.Briefly however and by way of background, supply cartridge 3 comprisesfirst and second cartridge parts 19 and 21, respectively, whichcooperate to enclose and protect supply reel 5.

The cartridge and enclosed supply reel are adapted to be supported on aprojector with a projector spindle 23 extending through an opening 25 inthe sidewalls of the cartridge and into reel core 27 to rotatably anddrivingly support the reel on the projector and in the cartridge.Stripping mechanism 7 for removing film from the cartridge comprises adriving belt 29 and a stripping finger 31 which are adapted to enter thecartridge through openings in the bottom thereof (not shown). During anautomatic threading operation, belt 29 engages the film on the reel androtates the reel in a direction to unwind film therefrom while finger 31picks up the leading end offilm from the reel and guides the film fromthe cartridge. Stripping mechanism 7 continues to remove film from thecartridge and to direct the film into the projector threading path 9until pulldown claw 11 becomes effective to engage the film and tofurther feed the film through the projector and toward the takeup reel15, at which time mechanism 7 is withdrawn from the cartridge. Uponreaching the takeup reel, the film is guided toward the reel hub 34, ina manner more fully described hereinafter, where it is engaged by teeth35 extending from a slip clutch 37, as is described more fully inBabcock U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,625, issued Jan. 17, 1967. The film ispulled around the hub by teeth 35 and is cinched onto the reel hub astakeup reel 15 continues to rotate and wind successive convolutions offilm onto the hub. Upon completion of the projection cycle the film isautomatically rewound from the takeup reel back into the supplycartridge by an automatic rewind mechanism such as the mechanismdisclosed in Roman U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,155 issued Jan.24, 1967.

Referring now more particularly to details of the present invention andto FIGS. 2 and 3, 'a takeup mechanism is disclosed comprising aplurality of guiding members illustrated as arms or fingers 39, 41, and43 equally spaced radially from the reel hub and circumferentially aboutthe hub. Members 39, 41, and 43 are substantially identical in shape andoperation and therefore further description of the features thereof willbe made in connection with member 39, it being understood that suchdescription applies equally to all of the members. The guiding membersare pivotally mounted at one end of the members to a supporting wall 45of projector housing 1 by means of pivot pins or screws 47 which extendthrough a circular bore in the members and into a threaded bore insupport wall 45. Each guidingmember is mounted for movement between afirst position adjacent the hub of the takeup reel wherein the memberextends substantially tangential to the hub as shown in solid lines inFIG. 2, and a second position retracted from the hub as shown in dottedlines in FIG. 2. Moreover, each member is urged about its respectivepivot pin 47 and toward the first position by resilient means such as aspring 49, soiled about the pivot pin and having a first end 51 engaginga recessed surface 53 of support wall 45 and a second end 55 engaging asurface of the member to urge the member toward the hub. While eachguide member is urged toward the hub, it is prevented from engaging thehub by a stop means illustrated as a nub 59 on the member which isadapted to engage recessed surface 61 on support wall 45 when the memberis in its first position adjacent the hub.

During the threading cycle of the projector, the film is guided betweenguide members 39 and 41 by means defining the projector threading path33. Upon entering between members 39 and 41, surfaces on member 41, tobe described more fully hereinafter, direct the film toward the hub 34and film engaging teeth 35. Should guide member 41 fail to properlythread the film onto the hub, adjacent guide member 43 again will directthe film toward the hub. Similarly, guide member 39 will direct the filmtoward the hub in the event member 43 fails to properly thread the filmonto the hub. Moreover, since the fingers define a substantially closedchamber about the hub, the film will be cinched onto the hub assuccessive convolutions are wound thereon even if all of the fingersfail to cause teeth 35 to positively engage the film by directing thefilm toward the hub. After the film is threaded onto the hub and assuccessive convolutions are wound thereon, the guide members, whichcontinue to ride on the outer film convolution, move outwardly aboutpivot pin 47 toward their retracted position shown in dotted lines inFIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the configuration of the guidemembers or fingers, each member has one side closest to the takeup reelwhich defines first and second adjacent arcuate surfaces or portions 63and 65 respectively and a raised portion in the form of a nub orbuilt-up area 68 between the arcuate surfaces. These arcuate portions ofthe fingers are configured such that the first arcuate portion of eachfinger will direct film toward the hub of the takeup reel while thesecond arcuate portion of each finger will direct film toward the firstarcuate portion of the adjacent finger. Moreover, these arcuate portionsare arranged such that the nub or raised portion therebetween will bethe radially closest point on each guide member to the hub of the reelregardless of the pivotal position of the finger.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, nub or raised portion 63 is taperedfrom one edge 69 of the finger toward the other edge 71 of the fingersuch that only one edge 71 of the portion 63 will ride on the outerconvolution of film as the film is fed into a roll on the film. Asdisclosed, such edge is adapted to engage the film along a perforatededge 73 thereof in a manner which will prevent scratching of the picturearea 75 ofthe film as the film roll rotates in engagement with thefinger.

Nub or raised portion 68 may further have an extended portionillustrated as a head or abutment 77 which protrudes beyond the edge 71of the finger in an axial direction substantially parallel to the axisof rotation of the takeup reel. This head or abutment 77 protrudesoutwardly from the finger and into engagement with flange 15 ofthetakeup reel to locate the finger relative to flange l5 and to limit thearea of contact and reduce the frictional resistance to rotation betweenthe finger and the flange.

in order to provide a fail-safe takeup mechanism the length of each armis substantially equal to the circumferential distance between the armsand the first arcuate surface of each arm is configured and positionedsuch that the end porthe film.

From the above description, it should now be apparent that the guidemembers engage the outer convolution of film on the reel withsubstantially single line contact on only one edge of the film.Moreover, the arcuate portions 63 and 65 and the raised portion 68 ofthe guide members are configured such that this line contact remains atsubstantially the same position on the members regardless ofthe amountof film on the reel.

Further, extended head portion 77 engages a flange of the reel to locatethe finger relative to the flange without substantially restrainingrotation of the reel.

While the subject invention has been illustrated and described inconnection with a particular projector and takeup reel, it should beunderstood that the takeup threading mechanism will operate equally wellwith other projectors or reels and with other strip handling devicessuch as tape recorders.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference topreferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variationsand modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope oftheinvention.

I claim:

1. in a device for handling strip material, the device having a hub forstoring such material and means for feeding such material toward thehub, a takeup mechanism comprising: a plurality of guide members mountedon the device in spaced relationship about the hub for movement betweenfor first positions adjacent the hub wherein strip material fed towardthe hub by the feeding means will be directed into engagement with thehub by said members, and second positions retracted from the hub topermit movement of the members away from the hub as strip material iswound onto the hub, each of said guide members being configured toengage the strip material on the hub at only a single location on eachmember and with substantially line contact regardless of the amount ofstrip material on the hub.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein said line contact remainssubstantially at the same location on each guide member regardless ofthe amount of strip material on the hub.

3. A mechanism for directing strip material onto a hub rotatablysupported in a device for handling such material, wherein the hubincludes film engaging means for threading film onto the hub and thedevice includes means for rotating the hub and for feeding the stripmaterial toward the hub, the mechanism comprising:

a plurality of elongate arms mounted on the device for movement betweenfirst positions wherein the arms extend in close proximity to the hubfor directing strip material onto the hub, and second positions whereinthe arms are retracted from the hub; each of said arms have one sidefacing the hub, said one side defining first and second adjacent arcuateportions and a raised portion between said arcuate portions, said firstarcuate portion of each finger being configured to direct the stripmaterial toward the hub and said second arcuate portion of each fingerbeing configured to direct the strip material toward the first arcuateportion of an adjacent finger; and

means for urging said arms toward the first positions thereof, wherebystrip material fed toward the hub by the device will be directed ontothe hub and into contact with the film engaging means when said arms arein the first positions and the arms will be moved toward their secondpositions as film is wound onto the hub by rotation of the hub.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein the length of each of saidarms is substantially equal to the circumferential distance between thearms and the first arcuate portion of each finger is configured suchthat the end of one arm will move along an are closely spaced from thefirst arcuate por tion of an adjacent arm as the one arm and adjacentarm are pivoted on the device; thereby preventing escape of the stripmaterial from between the arms;

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said arms includesmeans for preventing pivotal movement of the arms into engagement withthe hub.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said raised portion isconfigured to engage the strip material along only one edge of the stripmaterial.

7. A cinematographic device for handling motion picture film, the deviceincluding a takeup reel having a hub for supporting the film, means forrotating the reel to wind film onto the reel, means for feeding the filmthrough the device and toward the reel, and a mechanism for directingfilm fed toward the reel onto the hub ofthe reel, said mechanismcomprising:

a plurality of elongate fingers mounted on the projector in spacedrelationship about said reel for movement between a first positionadjacent the hub member and a second position retracted from said hubmember, each of said fingers having a first portion for directing thefilm toward the hub and a second portion for engaging film on the hub.said second portion being configured to engage the film withsubstantially line contact regardless of the amount of film on the hub;and

means for urging said fingers toward the first positions thereof,whereby strip material fed toward the hub by the device will be directedonto the hub when said arms are in the first positions and the arms willbe moved toward their second positions by the second portion thereof asfilm is wound onto the hub.

8. A cinematographic device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of saidfingers has a second arcuate portion for directing the film toward thefirst arcuate portion of an adjacent finger and for preventing film fromescaping between the fin ers.

9. in a motion picture pro ector adapted to rotate ly support a takeupreel having a film supporting hub and a flange extending radiallyoutwardly from the hub, a film guiding mechanism comprising:

at least one elongated member pivotally mounted on the projector formovement between a first position adjacent the hub and a second positionretracted from the hub; said member being configured to direct film intoengagement with the hub in the first position ofthe member; and abutmentmeans on the member adapted to slidably engage the flange for locatingthe member relative to the flange. 10. A film guiding mechanism asclaimed in claim 9, wherein said abutment means comprises a head memberextending outwardly from the elongated member and toward the flange toengage the flange, and wherein the head member is configured to be theonly portion of the elongated member which engages the flange thereby tolimit the frictional resistance to rotation exerted on the reel by theelongated member.

